Cytarabine and Daunorubicin With or Without Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin in Treating Older Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndromes

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RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cytarabine and daunorubicin, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as gemtuzumab ozogamicin, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. It is not yet known whether cytarabine and daunorubicin followed by gemtuzumab ozogamicin is more effective than cytarabine and daunorubicin in treating acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying cytarabine and two different doses of daunorubicin to see how well they work compared to cytarabine and daunorubicin followed by gemtuzumab ozogamicin in treating older patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

61 Years to 120 Years (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

M0-M2 or M4-M7 FAB subtype

No AML with cytogenetic abnormality t(15;17) (M3)

Patients with secondary AML progressing from prior myelodysplasia* or biphenotypic leukemia are eligible